No. 9/9 Kansas to Host TCU in Men's Hoops Saturday at 3 p.m.

Game Information
Senior G Travis Releford leads the Big 12 with a 60.4 field goal percentage.
#9/9 Kansas vs. TCU
Date Feb. 23, 2013
Time 3 p.m.
Location Lawrence, Kan.
Arena Allen Fieldhouse
Radio Jayhawk Radio Network
Live Stats GameTracker
Stats at a Glance KU TCU
Record 22-4 10-16
Points Per Game 73.2 54.2
Scoring Margin +12.9 -6.5
FG Percentage 46.7 40.3
3-Point FG Percentage 35.0 29.2
FT Percentage 71.4 58.4
Total Rebounds/GM 39.5 32.4
Rebounding Margin +6.1 -1.0
Assists/GM 14.7 10.0
Turnovers/GM 13.5 13.7
Steals/GM 7.2 5.3
Blocks/GM 6.8 2.9
Statistical Leaders
Kansas TCU
PPG McLemore (16.3) Anderson (11.2)
RPG Withey (8.6) McKinney (6.4)
APG Johnson (4.4) Anderson (3.4)
SPG Releford/McLemore (1.2) Anderson (1.5)
BPG Withey (4.0) Abron (0.7)

Feb. 22, 2013

Kansas notes for TCU Get Acrobat Reader

115 YEARS OF KANSAS BASKETBALL

Kansas returns home to host TCU Saturday, Feb. 23, at 3 p.m. on the Big 12 Television Network. The No. 9 Jayhawks (22-4, 10-3) have won three straight and are tied for the Big 12 lead with Kansas State. TCU is 10-16 and 1-12 in Big 12 play and is looking to snap a four-game losing streak.

Kansas men’s basketball will host its 115th-year celebration on Feb. 23 when the Jayhawks play host to TCU. More than 200 former Kansas coaches, players and managers will be recognized at halftime of the game. Included in the celebration is the 25th anniversary of Kansas’ 1988 NCAA National Championship team. For the KU-TCU contest, the 2012-13 Jayhawks will wear retro attire resembling the 1988 uniforms, warm-ups, etc.

Former KU legend JoJo White will be on hand prior to the contest, autographing his book “Make It Count” in the Booth Family Hall of Athletics. White was a two-time All-American in 1968 and 1969 and a three-time All-Big Eight Conference First Team selection while at Kansas. He also left his mark in the NBA with the Boston Celtics. Both Kansas and the Celtics have retired White’s jerseys. “Make It Count” is a book described as one athlete’s career that was the product of genuine good values.

ABOUT KANSAS

Kansas, ranked No. 9 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ polls released Feb. 18, is 22-4 (10-3 Big 12) after its 68-67 double overtime win at No. 14 Oklahoma State Wednesday. The Jayhawks are 14-1 at home, 6-2 in road games and 2-1 on neutral courts in 2012-13. In his 10th season at KU, Bill Self holds a 291-57 record for an 83.6 winning percentage. Overall, Self is nearing his 500th career victory with a 498-162 record in his 20th season as a head coach. KU averages 73.2 points per game and is giving up 60.3 for a Big 12-leading +12.9 scoring margin. KU also leads the league in rebound margin at +6.1, field goal percentage at 46.7, field goal percentage defense at 35.4, which leads the nation, and blocked shots at 6.8.

Kansas starts four seniors, including three fifth-year seniors, and one freshman. Named to the Sporting News Mid-Season All-American team Jan. 15, redshirt freshman G Ben McLemore leads the team in scoring at 16.3 points per game, which leads all Big 12 freshmen in scoring and ranks second overall in the conference. The Jan. 14 Big 12 Player of the Week and two-time conference Rookie of the Week, McLemore leads the league in free throw percentage (87.1) and is third in three-point field goal percentage (43.1). McLemore, who is listed on the USBWA Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year Award Midseason list, has a team-high 50 three-pointers made and is tied for the team lead with 31 steals. All-America candidate senior C Jeff Withey, who on Feb. 18 was named the Big 12 Player of the Week for the second time in 2012-13, leads Kansas in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and has 10 double-doubles this season, including each of his last three games. Withey leads the league in blocked shots at 4.0 per game, which ranks third nationally. Withey is Kansas’ and the Big 12’s all-time blocked shots leader with 269. A USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year Midseason and Wooden Award Mid-Season Top 25 honoree along with McLemore, Withey is scoring 13.4 points per outing. Senior G Travis Releford leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 60.4 percent after his 7-for-10 performance at Oklahoma State (2/20). The Nov. 26 Big 12 Player of the Week, Releford is scoring 12.2 points per contest. Senior G Elijah Johnson has a team-high 114 assists and is second on the team with 35 three-pointers made to complement his 9.2 scoring average. Senior F Kevin Young rounds out the KU starters; he is scoring 7.6 points per contest and is second on the team with 7.0 rebounds per outing. Young has 979 career points between Loyola-Marymount and Kansas. Other KU regulars include freshman F Perry Ellis (4.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg), sophomore G Naadir Tharpe (5.4 ppg, 2.8 apg) and redshirt freshman F Jamari Traylor (2.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg).

ABOUT TCU

Located in Fort Worth, Texas, with an enrollment of 9,518, TCU is 10-16 on the season and 1-12 in its first season of Big 12 competition. The Horned Frogs are looking to end a four-game losing streak, which included a 68-59 loss to Texas Tuesday. The Horned Frogs are coached by Trent Johnson who is 10-16 in his first season at TCU and 236-201 in his 14th season overall. TCU is 8-8 at home, 1-7 in road games, 1-1 on neutral courts this season and has a -6.5 scoring margin. TCU ranks third in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing 60.6 points per game.

Sophomore G Kyan Anderson leads TCU in scoring with 11.2 points per game. He is also the team leader with 38 three-pointers, 89 assists and 39 steals. Senior F Garlon Green is next in scoring at 10.2 points per game and is second on the team with 21 three-pointers made. Senior F Adrick McKinney is the TCU leader in rebounds with 6.4 per contest, which ranks 12th in the Big 12. McKinney is scoring 8.0 points per outing in 2012-13. Senior G Nate Butler Lind is a starter who scores 5.1 points per game and is second on the team with 44 assists and 24 steals. Senior F Connell Crossland is another TCU starter who is second on the team with a 5.9 rebound average and scores 6.4 points per game. Sophomore F Devonta Abron has 15 starts for the Horned Frogs this season and averages 6.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Freshman G Charles Hill Jr. rounds out the TCU regulars. He has started six conference games and scores 3.5 points per contest.

THE SERIES

Though this is the second conference meeting between Kansas and TCU, the men’s basketball series between the two schools dates back to 1952 when the Jayhawks defeated the Horned Frogs 68-64 on March 21 in the NCAA Midwest Regional at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. Kansas is 4-1 against TCU with two games on neutral floors: the 1952 contest and a KU 94-78 win vs. TCU on Dec. 20, 1997, at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. KU swept a home-and-home series with TCU in 2003 and 2004 with an 85-66 win in Fort Worth on Dec. 1, 2003, and a 93-74 victory on Dec. 9, 2004, in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas head coach Bill Self is 8-4 all-time against TCU, including 2-1 while at Kansas. TCU head coach Trent Johnson is 2-0 against Kansas. In Self’s first season at Kansas, Johnson’s Stanford team defeated KU 64-58 on Dec. 6, 2003, in Anaheim, Calif., in the Wooden Classic.

Earlier this season, TCU defeated then-No. 5 Kansas 62-55 (Feb. 6) in Fort Worth, Texas. The win was TCU’s lone Big 12 victory of the 2012-13 season thus far. Ben McLemore paced KU with 15 points, while Jeff Withey added 12 and pulled down eight rebounds. Guard Naadir Tharpe scored 11 for the Jayhawks. TCU’s Garlon Green led all scorers with 20 points, while Connell Crossland added 15 rebounds in the Horned Frogs’ victory.

KANSAS TEAM NOTABLES

–Kansas leads the NCAA Division I in field goal percentage defense at 35.4 percent and is third nationally in blocked shots at 6.8 per game. Both stats lead the Big 12 and KU also leads the conference in scoring margin (+12.9), field goal percentage (46.7), rebounding (39.5) and rebound margin (+6.1). The Jayhawks also rank in the top four of the Big 12 in scoring (third, 73.2), free throw percentage (fourth, 71.4), rebound defense (second, 33.4), assists (fourth, 14.7) and assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth, 1.1).

–Kansas has held a double-digit lead in all but six contests this season. KU has held the lead in all but one game in 2012-13.

–Out of its 26 games, Kansas has held 16 of its opponents to 60 points or less, including seven of the last 11 conference foes: 46 at Texas Tech, 44 vs. Baylor, 59 at Texas, 55 at Kansas State, 54 vs. Oklahoma, 56 at West Virginia and 47 vs. Texas.

–KU has outrebounded 21 of 26 opponents this season, including 17 of its last 20 foes. KU has had five games with 10-plus rebounds over its opponent, including a 41-23 advantage against Kansas State (2/11). Kansas’ 50 rebounds at Oklahoma State (2/20) were a season high.

–Kansas has out shot all but four opponents in 2012-13. Additionally, KU has shot 50 percent or better in nine games this season. KU’s 54.1 percent at West Virginia (1/28) was its league best during 2012-13.

–Kansas has held a 40-plus point lead in four different games this season.

–Kansas has had four players score in double figures in 10 times this season, including five against Iowa State (1/9).

KANSAS SHOOTING

Kansas has out shot all but four opponents in 2012-13 and has shot 50 percent or better from the field in nine games. KU leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 46.7 percent. Individually, senior G Travis Releford leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 60.4 and has shot 70 percent or better in 12 games, including five league contests. Redshirt freshman G Ben McLemore’s 9-for-13 (69.2 percent) shooting effort against Kansas State (2/11) was his sixth 60 percent performance of the season. He has shot 50 percent or better from three-point range in seven conference games. Senior C Jeff Withey has shot 50 percent or better in 20 of 26 games this season, including 11 games of 62.5 percent or better. Senior F Kevin Young has nine games of shooting 60.0 percent or better, including four in conference play. Senior G Elijah Johnson is 10-for-19 (52.6 percent) in his last two games. Johnson is shooting 37.9 percent for the season.

WITHEYBLOCKPARTY.COM

Here are some block party notables for Kansas All-American candidate Jeff Withey:

–Withey leads the Big 12 and is third nationally with 4.0 blocked shots per game. KU’s record for single-season blocked shot average is 3.6 set by Withey in 2012.

–The 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Withey set the KU and Big 12 single-game record with 12 blocked shots versus San Jose State (11/26).

–A three-time Big 12 Player of the Week, including twice in 2012-13, Withey’s 104 blocks in 2012-13 are more than six Big 12 teams this season and rank third on the KU single-season list.

–Earlier this season, Withey broke the Kansas and Big 12 Conference career blocked shots record, currently at 269. He passed Greg Ostertag who had 258 blocks at Kansas from 1992-95 and Chris Mihm of Texas’ 264 from 1998-2000.

–For his career, Withey has had 10 games with seven or more blocked shots, including three in 2012-13.

–Withey broke the NCAA Tournament record for blocked shots with 31 in the 2012 event.

–Withey broke the Kansas and Big 12 single-season blocked shots record with 140 last year (3.6 per game). He is only the second Jayhawk to pass 100 blocked shots for a single season with his 140 last year and 104 this year. The other was Cole Aldrich with 125 in 2009-10.

AIRMCLEMORE.COM

Kansas guard Ben McLemore leads the Big 12 freshman class with a 16.3 scoring average, which is second overall in the conference. A two-time Big 12 Rookie of the Week and one-time Player of the Week honoree, McLemore leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage at 87.1 and is third in three-point field goal percentage at 43.1 percent. KU’s leading scorer, McLemore has seven games with 20 points or more this season, including a 30-point effort against Kansas State (2/11) and 33-point performance against Iowa State (1/9) in the Big 12 opener. He is the only freshman in KU history to have two 30-point games in conference play.

Kansas freshman record-wise, McLemore’s:

…16.3 ppg would surpass the KU freshman record of 14.6 ppg held by by Danny Manning in 1985.

…5.5 rebound average would rank eighth on the KU freshman list.

…50 three-pointers made in 2012-13 are tied for fourth on the KU freshman list (Billy Thomas, 1995).

…43.1 three-point field goal percentage is fifth on the KU freshman list.

…87.1 free throw percentage is first on the Kansas freshmen list.

McLemore’s 33 points against Iowa State (1/9):

–Were the most by a Jayhawk since Marcus Morris tallied 33 points against Iowa State on Jan. 12, 2011.

–Are the most points scored in a game this season in the Big 12 Conference for all players.

–Were the most by a Kansas freshman since Danny Manning scored 35 points against Oklahoma State on March 2, 1985.

–Consisted of him connecting on 6-of-6 three-point field goal attempts, marking the best three-point field goal percentage since Rex Walters went 6-for-6 from beyond the arc against Ball State in 2003.

KANSAS AND THE BIG 12 WEEKLY HONORS

In becoming the Big 12’s all-time blocked shots leader and recording back-to-back double-doubles, Kansas senior C Jeff Withey was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (2/18). It was the second time he was named player of the week this season and the third time in his career.

Kansas redshirt freshman G Ben McLemore was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week (1/21) after averaging 16.5 points in KU wins against Baylor and at Texas. It was the second time McLemore has won the accolade this season. Last week, McLemore was named the conference’s player of the Week.

Historically, McLemore is the first KU player since Josh Selby in 2010-11 to be named Big 12 Rookie of the Week twice in one season. Additionally, he became only the second Jayhawk in the 17-year history of the Big 12 to have earned Big 12 Player and Rookie of the Week in the same season. Mario Chalmers also accomplished the feat during the 2005-06 season.

McLemore was the third different Jayhawk to be named Big 12 Player of the Week this season. He joins KU seniors Travis Releford (11/26) and Withey (12/3 and 2/18) as honorees. This is the second-straight season Kansas has had three different players earn the weekly honor. Last year, KU had four different players named Big 12 Player of the Week – Releford, Withey, Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor – which was a Big 12 first for one season.

MCLEMORE AND WITHEY NAMED TO MIDSEASON TEAMS

Kansas’ Ben McLemore and Jeff Withey were named to the USBWA Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Midseason Watch List on Jan. 31. On Jan. 10, the duo was selected to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 announced by The Los Angeles Athletic Club. The Oscar Robertson award consisted of 12 players and Kansas and Indiana were the only schools with multiple players listed with two each. For the Wooden Award, Kansas is one of three schools to have two players among the 25, along with Duke and Missouri. The 2013 Wooden Award Gala will take place April 11-13, 2013, at The Los Angeles Athletic Club. The Gala will honor the Men’s and Women’s Wooden Award winners, All Americans and the Legends of Coaching Award winner, Kansas head coach Bill Self.

MCLEMORE SPORTING NEWS MID-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN

Kansas redshirt freshman G Ben McLemore was named to the Sporting News Mid-Season All-America First Team it was announced Jan. 15. McLemore is joined on the first team by Oklahoma State freshman Marcus Smart, Michigan sophomore Trey Burke, Creighton junior Doug McDermott and Duke senior Mason Plumlee.

UP NEXT

Kansas will travel to Iowa State for ESPN Big Monday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. and return home to host West Virginia on Saturday, March 2, at 1 p.m. on CBS. KU will then host Texas Tech, Monday, March 4, at 6 p.m. on ESPNU for Senior Night, honoring Elijah Johnson, Travis Releford, Jeff Withey and Kevin Young. Kansas will close out the regular season at Baylor on Saturday, March 9, at 5 p.m. on ESPN.